House proposes $2 hotel fee to help fund long-term clean water initiative

House proposes $2 hotel fee to help fund long-term clean water initiative

Gov. Scott opposed surcharge, promises own plan in 2019

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Updated: 6:33 PM EDT Apr 13, 2018

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WEBVTT IN MONTPELIER, STILL NO AGREEMENT ON IDENTIFYING LONG-TERM FUNDING TO CLEAN UP POLLUTED WATERWAYS -- AS VERMONT’S PROMISED THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY IT WILL DO. THIS AFTERNOON, THE HOUSE WATER RESOURCES COMMITTEE AGREED THAT TOURISTS COULD HELP WITH THE SOLUTION. THE PANEL APPROVED BILL S-260, AND TACKED ON A $2 PER NIGHT FEE FOR STAYING IN A VERMONT HOTEL AND MOTEL ROOM. IT WOULD AUTOMATICALLY TAKE EFFECT STARTING IN JANUARY OF 2020, UNLESS THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE AGREE ON A DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCE BEFORE THEN. GOVERNOR SCOTT THINKS A HOTEL TAX PUTS VERMONT TOURISM AT A DISADVANTAGE. >> ANYTHING WE DO TO BE OUT OF SYNC WITH OTHER DESTINATION POINTS WOULD OF EARTHLY AFFECT OUR ECONOMY. >> DO YOU HAVE A BETTER IDEA? >> WE DO. MANY OF THOSE COME FROM EXISTING RESOURCES. I HAVE MADE A COMMITMENT TO CLEAN WATER. WE HAVE A PLAN AND WE WILL UNFOLD THAT NEXT YEAR. THE $2 HOTEL FEE ONLY RAISES A STEWART: PORTION OF THE $25 MILLION VERMONT’S AGREED TO SPEND EVERY YEAR -- FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS -- TO ADDRESS PHOSPHORUS AND OTHER POLLUTION ISSUES I

House proposes $2 hotel fee to help fund long-term clean water initiative

The House Committee on Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources was voting Friday to advance S. 260, a bill to tackle phosphorus and other pollutants fouling lakes and rivers, a problem that Vermont leaders have pledged to address.

The sticking point between the Scott administration and state lawmakers continues to be a long-term funding source.

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The state treasurer estimates Vermont must come up with $25 million each year for the next 20 years to tackle a wide range of pollution control projects.

Vermont leaders signed an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency committing to the 20-year effort.

The House panel approved a new $2 per night surcharge on Vermont motel and hotel rooms -- raising about $7.5 million annually -- starting in January 2020.

Gov. Phil Scott said he can't support the $2 fee, believing it could hurt the state's important tourism industry.

He said he will roll out a new plan to address water pollution issues in 2019, assuming he wins re-election.

Current water quality funding is coming from capital budget dollars and from federal sources.